CVE-2026-32299 in connect-cms
Summary
by MITRE • 03/24/2026
Connect-CMS is a content management system. In versions on the 1.x series up to and including 1.41.0 and versions on the 2.x series up to and including 2.41.0, an improper authorization issue in the page content retrieval feature may allow retrieval of non-public information. Versions 1.41.1 and 2.41.1 contain a patch.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-32299 affects Connect-CMS, a widely used content management system that serves as a foundational platform for numerous websites and digital properties. This issue resides within the page content retrieval functionality of the system, specifically impacting versions ranging from the 1.x series through 1.41.0 and the 2.x series through 2.41.0. The flaw represents a critical authorization bypass that fundamentally undermines the system's access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to gain access to content that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control checks within the content retrieval subsystem. When users request page content through the CMS interface, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary permissions to access the specific content being requested. This improper authorization check creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system by crafting requests that bypass normal access controls, potentially retrieving sensitive information such as unpublished articles, confidential documents, or administrative content that should be restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct API calls, parameter manipulation, or session hijacking techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the content management system. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can access non-public information including draft content, user data, system configurations, and potentially administrative credentials or system logs. This unauthorized access can lead to significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for organizations relying on Connect-CMS for their digital presence. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple major versions of the software, indicating a persistent flaw in the authorization implementation that was not adequately addressed in the affected releases, creating widespread exposure across numerous deployments.
Organizations utilizing Connect-CMS versions prior to 1.41.1 and 2.41.1 should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The primary and most effective remediation involves upgrading to the patched versions 1.41.1 and 2.41.1, which contain the necessary authorization fixes to prevent unauthorized content access. Additionally, system administrators should implement network-level restrictions to limit access to CMS administrative interfaces, enforce strict authentication measures including multi-factor authentication, and conduct thorough access control reviews to ensure that users only possess the minimum necessary permissions for their roles. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized content retrieval attempts, while regular security audits should verify that proper authorization controls remain effective. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and credential access domains, potentially enabling attackers to move laterally within affected networks and escalate their access privileges through the compromised CMS system.